Writing in Saturday's Kansas City Star, Rita Valenciano reminds us to:

Respect West Side resolve

"The West Side neighborhood of Kansas City has faced many challenges.

In addition to being home to the oldest Latino community in this city, it is a community that has withstood flooding, crime, unceasing waves of immigrants and dissection by public thoroughfares that allow easy access to the suburbs.

Through it all, it has persevered as a viable neighborhood, primarily because it is made up of stubborn individuals who don't respond well to insensitive change. It is my neighborhood and I am in my element.

My life in the neighborhood is punctuated by noises — phenomenal and unceasing in the morning, evening and night — traffic, airplanes, construction, trucks, police and ambulance sirens, loud neighbors' voices carrying over an endless procession of delivery vehicles, meter readers, mail carriers, joggers, walkers, barking dogs along the block — in addition to car alarms, loud phones and eclectic music — mariachi, country, hard rock, blues and symphonies — that penetrate windows and doors whether open or closed.

New residents and longtime dwellers are easily identified. Newcomers keep to themselves. They don't mix at first, while old-timers not only mix, they stir — they want to know your business and pedigree — workplace and profession, household composition and place of origin.

The West Side can be a strange yet comfortable place to live. Every house on the West Side is made of glass — intentional or not. We watch out for each other, having learned that it is the only way to keep our persons, homes and property safe and secure. As a result, we have kept crime at bay because we know each other's quirks and more.

Now we face an onslaught of developers with flimsy arguments to support profiteering at the expense of ensconced residents. Residents are portrayed as resistant to change that is said to be inevitable. Change is never easy, although it is the only constant in life.

The change proposed is not about a “million dollar” view; it is about much more than that — it is about the meshing of cultures.

Successful change adapts with the culture it usurps. It is difficult to move forward until we know more about each other — where we are and where we have been. Suburbs and urban areas can coexist, but differences must be compromised. In compromise, both sides agree — agreement is the basis of community. Agreement begins with listening and understanding.

Preserving our West Side community is necessary if this city is to return to the greatness envisioned by civic leaders. Developing a stubborn neighborhood into extinction should not be an option. There is too much at stake. The loss of neighborhood culture engendered by luxury condominium gentrification will be a loss that no developer can resurrect.

Those who move to and those who promote the West Side only for the view are overlooking the strength and concept of “neighborhood” — the root and basis of our city.

Cities are made up of neighborhoods. If West Side neighborhood change is to be successful and embraced, developers and politicians must respect the literal and figurative views of current residents in order to secure support for their designs.

Rita Valenciano is a member of the Westside Planning Committee. She lives in Kansas City."

Is Development at 1601 Jefferson Out of Character with the Westside?


I received this information from Kathy Kirby today:

"Alfredo asked that I e-mail the City Hall contact information to your website so that your visitors will know about the 1601 Jefferson condo building and can e-mail the Mayor with their comments. See http://1601jefferson.com to see the description of the six ($1 million dollar each) condos they want to build there. It's just more of the same that is across the street, but way more expensive.

We need to get 50 e-mails sent to the Mayor so that we can convince the City that the developer should downsize the building so it will blend in and won't harm the neighborhood so much.

The Developer is presenting his plan to the City Plan Commission on December 21st, in Council Chambers on the 26th floor.

We are trying to get alot of people to go to that meeting, because it's the best chance we have to make the developer redesign the buildling.

Also, there is a neighborhood meeting next Wed, at 6:30, at Posada Del Sol to talk about this again.


Thanks,
Kathy Kirby

PLEASE CONTACT THE MAYOR & THESE COUNCIL REPS NOW ABOUT THE 1601 JEFFERSON DEVELOPMENT


Please have every adult member of your family call or e-mail the Mayor and the Council Representatives listed below ASAP. It’s fine if you don’t want to speak to them. Just leave a message (you can call anytime day or night) or e-mail them. We need to flood them with calls & e-mails so please forward this list to other people and ask them to also help out and call or e-mail.



1. Mayor Kay Barnes 513-3500

kay_barnes@kcmo.org



2. Councilman Jim Glover 513-1616

jim_glover@kcmo.org



3. Councilwoman Bonnie Sue Cooper 513-1601

bonnie_sue_cooper@kcmo.org



4. Councilman John Fairfield 513-1622

john_fairfield@kcmo.org



5. Councilman Troy Nash 513-1605

troy_nash@kcmo.org



6. Also E-mail your comments to

planning_committee@kcmo.org



7. Councilman Jim Rowland 513-1617

dana_laiben@kcmo.org

Be sure to send your message to Councilman Rowland because his office is counting the number of e-mails being sent to City Hall.

If you want to send just one e-mail or letter to the Mayor then be sure to Cc: it to all of the above.

IDEAS RE WHAT TO SAY:

When contacting these people state you name, address and your opinion in a few polite words. A general summary of the Westside Planning Committee’s position is: We support Councilman Rowland’s proposal to downzone & oppose the developer’s current plan for 1601 Jefferson.

If you instead want to send a letter, the address is: City Hall - 414 E. 12th Street - KCMO 64106"

Lila Downs coming to Kansas City

Internationally renowned singer Lila Downs will perform in concert Friday night October 8th at the GEM Theater at 8 p.m.

Tickets are on sale at UMKC's Central Ticket Office, 816.235.6222.

The event is co-hosted by the Mattie Rhodes Art Center and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City.

Kick off Hispanic Heritage Month at UMKC with this festive outdoors event - Festival de Culturas (Festival of Cultures). This event will include an evening of live Latin music, flamenco dancers, great food, contests and more... Festival de Culturas is a celebration of Latin American culture in Kansas City and UMKC.

Friday, September 17
5 - 9 p.m.
UMKC Playhouse
50th St. and Rockhill Road

Admission to the festival is free.

Sponsored by Minority Student Affairs, Diversity in Action Office, Association of Latin American students, Department of Foreign Languages, Residence Life, Student Life Office, the Minority Affairs Committee of the UMKC Alumni Association and Women's Center.

For more information, please contact Mauricio Fernandez at 816-235-5642 or send e-mail to mf4g9@umkc.edu

Christina Jasso was recognized last night for her work with the Guadalupe Centers Homeless Program. Felicitaciones Christina!

LA MIGRACIÓN NO SE VA A DETENER CON BALAS DE GOMA: CARDENAL NORBERTO RIVERA CARRERA /

CIRO PEREZ SILVA / LA JORNADA

Los gobiernos deben comprometerse seriamente a defender el derecho de sus gobernados a vivir en paz y con dignidad en su propia patria, señaló en su homilía dominical el cardenal Norberto Rivera Carrera, luego de advertir que
cada país debe garantizar a sus habitantes no sólo la libertad de expresión y movimiento, sino la posibilidad de colmar necesidades como educación, salud, habitación y vivienda, cuya carencia los obliga a emigrar a otro país.

Ver nota completa:

http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2004/sep04/0409

KANSAS CITY TO HOST ANNUAL NALAC CONFERENCE OCTOBER 6-10, 2004

This is the link: http://www.nalac.org/conference.html